For more than six decades, the United States’ engagement in the United Nations has clearly supported U.S. foreign policy goals. Less obvious is the fact that the U.S derives significant economic benefits from that engagement, through UN procurement of American goods and services and economic returns to local New York businesses. In fact, for every $1 invested by the United States in the United Nations Secretariat, our nation receives over $1.60 in return.
Breakdown of UN economic benefits to the U.S.:
While the U.S. contributes $2.478 billion to the UN Secretariat, we receive $4.12 billion in economic benefits from the UN. This means that for every dollar the U.S. pays, we receive more than $1.60 in return.
UN Secretariat economic benefits to the U.S. per year based on latest figures available:
UN Secretariat Procurement from U.S. in 2010: $832 million
Economic bene!t to NYC: $3.3 billion
Estimated benefit to the U.S. in one year: $4.13 billion
U.S. Contributions to the UN Secretariat:
U.S. to UN Regular Budget in 2010: $516 million
U.S. to UN Peacekeeping in 2010: $1.887 billion
U.S. to the Capital Master Plan (as pledged in 2010): $75 million
Estimated U.S. contribution to the UN Secretariat: $2.478 billion
4.13 ÷ 2.478 = $1.66
In 2010, the UN Secretariat bought $832 million in goods and services from American companies. In
fact, more than 3,500 U.S. headquartered companies – with locations as diverse as San Jose, CA;
South!eld, MI; Morrisville, NC; and Miami, FL – provide reliable goods and services that the UN utilizes
to advance its various missions.
The table below shows a sample of American companies – which include Ford, Caterpillar, and CISCO
– that contracted with the UN in 2010. These procurement contracts stem from the Capital Master Plan,
Secretariat operations, and !eld missions.
The UN Supports the U.S. Economy by Buying American Goods and Services
Skanska USA Building Inc.
Ford Motor Company (Global Fleet Sales Inc.)
Caterpillar
Terex Corporation
CISCO Systems Inc.
American Power Conversion
Helpern Architects
Fisher Asset Management LLC
Doosan Infracore America Corp.
Lenovo, Inc.
World Fuel Services Corporation
Whitestone, NY
South!eld, MI
Peoria, IL
Westport, CT
San Jose, CA
West Kensington, RI
New York, NY
Redwood City, CA
Suwanee, GA
Morrisville, NC
Miami, FL
$290,689,713
$115,989,202
$18,337,697
$13,975,768
$9,252,293
$9,196,344
$8,829,626
$7,500,000
$7,298,932
$4,937,058
$2,144,731
Construction management, infrastructure
Light trucks, vans, and buses, heavy duty utility vehicle
Engineering equipment
Mobile cranes
Equipment and accessories for connecting electronic data processing equipment in to networks
Un-interrupted power supply (UPS) equipment & high density cooling system
Construction administration phase, design development phase, construction documents
Investment management services
Industrial forklifts
Micro-computers, software packages, printing and plotting devices
Aviation fuel
The Better World Campaign (BWC), an initiative of the Better World Fund, works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the United Nations through outreach, communications, and advocacy. It encourages U.S. leadership to enhance the UN’s ability to carry out its invaluable international work on behalf of peace, progress, freedom, and justice. In these efforts, BWC engages policy makers, the media, and the American public to increase awareness of and support for the United Nations.
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NWSuite 400 Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: (202) 462-4900Fax: (202) 462-2686
www.BetterWorldCampaign.org
The Capital Master Plan is a five-year project to renovate
UN headquarters in New York by updating building and fire
safety codes so that they comply with current standards
for security, energy efficiency, and accessibility. Con-
struction began in 2008 and U.S. companies have been
awarded 80 of the 82 contracts – a total investment of $1.7
billion in the U.S. economy over five years. As part of our
assessed dues, the U.S. will contribute $377 million to the
$1.95 billion total project budget. Consequently, for every
dollar the U.S. puts into the Capital Master Plan, it gets
back $4.50.
In 2010, the U.S. received $188 million in procurement for UN
peacekeeping operations. This went to support 15 UN peace-
keeping missions, which currently have more than 120,000
troops and personnel deployed around the globe, making
it the second largest deployed military force in the world.
American companies are on the ground in places like Haiti,
Lebanon, South Sudan, and Liberia supporting these critical
peacekeeping missions by offering telecommunications lines,
information technology services, earthmoving machines, and
building materials.
New York City bene!ts greatly from the daily business of UN
headquarters; the UN is an “enormous economic enterprise”
whose revenues come from national governments around the
world, but are spent largely in New York. A past estimate put
New York City’s annual economic gain from having the UN
headquartered there at $3.3 billion. In addition, visitors at-
tending UN conferences held in New York infuse millions into
the City’s economy; the annual opening of the General As-
sembly session alone is comparable to a major international
convention or sporting event. Moreover, this type of annual
conference is not affected by economic recessions, so these
large expenditures will be made each year, which can be
especially bene!cial in a down economy. Finally, New York
City bene!ts greatly from tourism - the UN hosts an average
of over 1 million visitors in New York every year, providing
business to local hotels and restaurants.
This UN agency
serves as the global focal point for nuclear cooperation, helping
its members use nuclear technology safely and securely. The
IAEA sets safety standards for nuclear energy and conducts in-
spections to ensure that Member States use nuclear technology
in accordance with non-proliferation agreements.
PAHO is the
regional branch of the World Health Organization which focuses
on improving the health and living standards of the people of the
Americas. PAHO strengthens national and local health systems
and improves the health of the peoples of the Americas, in col-
laboration with Ministries of Health, other government and inter-
national agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities,
social security agencies, community groups, and others.
FAO works to
achieve food security for the world’s population, guarantee-
ing people have regular access to enough high-quality food to
lead active and healthy lives. FAO’s mandate is to raise levels of
nutrition, improve agricultural activities, better the lives of rural
populations, and contribute to the growth of the world economy.
The International
Labor Organization (ILO) is the only tripartite UN agency
with government, employer, and worker representatives. This
structure makes the ILO a unique forum in which governments,
businesses, and employees alike can freely and openly debate
and create international labor standards and policies.